How to Download Old Versions of Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel used to be offered separately from other products of what would eventually make up Microsoft 365. Microsoft has mostly abandoned these older versions and frequently pushes you to upgrade to a newer version. Nevertheless, you can still find very old versions of Microsoft Excel.

If you own a product key for an older version of Microsoft Excel, you should still be able to download it. Below, you’ll find all the methods and steps for the process. Read on to find out what’s involved.

Download Old Version of Microsoft Excel

For both PC and Android, you can easily download older versions of Microsoft Excel. These versions include:

• Microsoft Excel 2019
• Microsoft Excel 2016
• Microsoft Excel 2013

You may even be able to find specific versions on other websites, though downloading from them is riskier. However, if you own a product key, you can get anything you bought long ago.

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to get versions older than 2013 from Microsoft, as they’re no longer supported. Their official pages are merely there to prompt you to update your current install.

First, we’ll look at the still-supported versions mentioned on the list above.

Downloading Microsoft Excel 2013-2019

If you owned Microsoft Excel in the past, you’ll have a product key that lets you download the software. This string of 25 numbers is unique and only works for one computer at a time. Remember that you need to use the same Microsoft account that purchased the software, as both are attached.

Here’s how to use your key and download older Excel versions.

1. Go to the Microsoft website.
   
2. Log into your account.
   
3. Look for and click “Service & Subscriptions.”
   
4. Any version of Microsoft software you bought in the past should be listed there.
5. If your product key isn’t listed, you should find it before proceeding.
6. Find the version you want and click on “Install.”
7. After the download is complete, you can start installing the software.

Before downloading, you can choose to get the 32-bit or 64-bit version. It’s also possible to switch languages by clicking “Other Options.”

Eventually, these versions will also permanently lose support, just as Excel 2010 and older are gone.

Downloading Even Older Versions of Microsoft Excel

Anything older than Microsoft Excel 2013 has lost support even though you own the product key. The installed software works fine, but you won’t be able to get it from official websites anymore. The only alternative is to go to third-party websites.

You can find functioning installers on these websites, and they may even have ways to bypass the security. These solutions will let you install the software without having a product key.

Even if that’s the case, websites other than Microsoft can be hazardous. You may end up installing malware and viruses onto your computer instead.

We won’t link to these websites as we’re not responsible for viruses and malware. However, you may proceed at your own risk.

Downloading Older Versions of Microsoft Excel for Android

Microsoft Excel is also available on mobile devices, though it won’t be as old as the ones we talked about earlier. Instead, Excel for Android is all the same product but with different builds and patches. Sometimes, older is better, which is why there are websites like this that contain previous versions ready for downloading,

Here’s how to download and install these files.

1. Open a browser on your mobile device.
   
2. Go to a website that offers older builds of Microsoft Excel for Android.
   
3. Download the file.
   
4. If it’s a compressed file, you’ll have to decompress it.
5. After that, run the APK file if you’ve given your phone permission to do so.
   
6. Wait for the file to install.
   

It would be better to uninstall the newest version of Microsoft Excel for Android as it may cause a conflict, though you can always keep both if nothing strange happens. You should also prevent the older version from updating, or you’d have downloaded it for nothing.

If you prefer using a PC to handle the download before transferring to your Android phone, follow these steps:

1. Open Google Chrome or another browser on your PC.
   
2. Head to the website to download the file.
   
3. Click and save the file.
   
4. Decompress the ZIP if required.
   
5. Connect your mobile device to the PC.
   
6. Transfer the APK file to your device.
   
7. If you haven’t already done so, enable third-party app installations.
8. Install the APK file and test to see if it works.
   

Check these instructions if you’re not sure how to enable third-party app installs.

1. Open your phone settings.
   
2. Go to the security settings.
   
3. Pick the option that says something to the effect of “Allow Install From Unknown Sources.”
   
4. From then on, you should be able to install any APK file.
   

As Microsoft Excel for Android and iOS is free, getting the older versions is much easier.

Why Use Older Versions of Microsoft Excel?

There are a few reasons you might want to use an older version of Microsoft Excel. We’ll take a look at two of them below.

Familiarity

A user may be more familiar with the older version’s interface and controls. Even though the newer versions may have better functions, familiarity is still essential to some users who prefer the older version. You can also attribute it to nostalgia for older programs.

Upgrade Costs

Upgrading to a newer version can be expensive, and since Microsoft Excel and other Office products last for a long time, you can use them for many years to come. You won’t have to pay for using them even if you download them multiple times. If you download unsupported versions, however, it’s likely piracy.

Additional FAQs

Can I downgrade to older versions of Microsoft Office?

Yes, you can do that if you first uninstall the newer version from your PC. After that, you can follow the installation steps using a product key. That will let you revert from 2019 to 2013, for example.

Is there a free version of Microsoft Excel?

You can use Excel Online for free, though you’ll need a Microsoft account which is also obtainable at nocost. It has most of the essential features, though you’ll need an internet connection to use it.

Alternatively, the full version of Microsoft Excel is available as a free trial for 30 days. As the latest version, it will have all of the newest features available for use.

Older Is Sometimes Better

If you like using the older versions of Microsoft Excel, you might still be able to get them, particularly if you have a product key. You can also get it illegally, but the risk of getting viruses or malware is high.

Which version of Microsoft Excel was your favorite? Do you think you should be able to get the oldest versions legally? Let us know in the comments section below.